COMHAIRLE CONTAE ÁTHA CLIATH THEAS
SOUTH DUBLIN COUNTY COUNCIL

south dublin county council crest

MEETING OF RATHFARNHAM AREA COMMITTEE

Tuesday, October 13, 2009

MOTION NO. 13

MOTION: Councillor J. Lahart

"That the Manager presents a comprehensive report of the Housing Department's management of outstanding issues relating to the social housing construction to the rear of Grangebrook; to include the Council's handling of serious anti-social behaviour; tenancy of the new homes; measures to remove large mounds; boundary security treatement etc. and to make a full report on the matter."

REPORT:

This scheme consists of 29 housing units and a community centre all of which are now completed and have been handed over to the Council. Landscaping and seeding of the open space has recently been completed and the remaining issue will be the removal of the fenced builder’s compound and the landscaping of this area.

The mounding between the playing pitches and the rear boundary wall of the Grangebrook houses was necessary to accommodate the surface water attenuation tanks which were installed as part of this development. As a result of this, the mounds at this location cannot be removed. However, the County Architect has recently inspected this location as a result of a number of complaints from a resident of Grangebrook and agrees that there is an unacceptable degree of overlooking of the Grangebrook houses from the mounding which may have resulted in recent complained-of antisocial activity. It is now proposed to erect a wooden screen of approx 0.8m atop the boundary wall in question which should alleviate this problem. This screen cannot be attached to the existing wall and will need to be supported from an external metal frame on the mound side of the wall. A drawing showing this screen (which will also be erected along the rear boundary of the Grangebrook development with 27 Whitechurch Heights) will be prepared in the coming weeks and agreed with affected residents from both schemes. Following agreement quotations will be obtained with a view to installation as early as possible.

Members of the Rathfarnham Area Committee will be kept updated on developments by letter.